So you want to join in this awesome movement, but don’t know what to do? Cool! All organizers start somewhere. You don’t have to be big, or loud, or extra powerful to be part of what we’re doing. Every little bit matters. So if you are so mad you’re ready to “can even” just pick an action and get on it!
Going out in a group:
1.) Find everyone you know who would be interested in the cause. A good way to do this is social media, but you can also network with your local Planned Parenthood, local chapters of the Democratic Party, other local activist groups to get people on-board. Organizing is pretty much just networking. Talk to people, let them know what you’re up to, and there will always be people willing to support the cause.
2.) Pick a good date, and before that date, scope out the nearest adjacent public sidewalk to your location. Different municipalities will have different protest permit laws, but generally, as long as your sidewalk is facing a street, and so long as you aren’t blocking or impeding foot traffic, you will be well within your constitutional rights. More information on what does/doesn’t fly as far as ordinances go can be found at the ACLU website. Check with your local city hall for additional information.
ACLU website: https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-demonstrations-and-protests
3.) Get out there and be strong. You may see counter-protesters. You may see rain. You may get tired. That’s okay. Just know that you’ve done your part by taking a stand against an injustice for a couple of hours.
Things you may not want to forget:
Sunscreen
Water
Literature
Comfy Shoes
Signs
Trashbags/Ponchos (if over 30% chance of rain)
Snacks
Any necessary permits
Chants/Songs
Individual Activities:
But what if I am really, really, really the only one? Well, that’s cool too. There are ways you can express your displeasure all on your own–even if they may not seem as powerful as they might in a group. Here are some ideas to get you started.
1.) Mail it in:
Write your local/state/federal government representatives and let them know what you stand for. They can’t necessarily overturn this ruling, but they can create and maintain local policies that support your reproductive rights. Bitch magazine has some awesome ideas on how to make a vintage postcard to let your representatives and senators know you won’t let them take you back to 1959.
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/eight-new-lobbying-hobbies-that-fight-against-hobby-lobby
2.) Shop and Drop:
If you really can’t find anyone in your vicinity who wants to stage a protest, or are blocked from doing so, you can always enter your local Hobby Lobby and pick out several things you would buy if the Green family weren’t out to take your rights. Walk it up to a register. Flash enough cash to show you’d buy the stuff, and say “This is what I would have bought today if you weren’t after my/my uterus having friend’s reproductive rights.” Then walk off.
3.) Shop everywhere else:
Buy an awesome craft haul! Take a picture of it and your receipt, and tweet that at Hobby Lobby.
And it doesn’t end there. There are so many things you can do. Just scope out the resource links below to get more ideas on how to make your protest an effective one.
Resources:
How to Protest
http://www.wikihow.com/Protest
40 Best Protest Signs
http://www.buzzfeed.com/angelameiquan/the-40-best-protest-signs-of-2012-70fn
How to Organize a Protest – Occupy Together
http://www.occupytogether.org/blog/2012/06/15/how-to-organize-a-protest/
How to Publicize an Event
http://www.ehow.com/how_135427_publicize-event.html
How to make a Press Kit
http://advertising.about.com/od/publicrelationsresources/a/presskitstools.htm
Secular Shethinkers 